Rubber sole for boots and shoes



G. FERGUSON.

RUBBER SOLE FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

- APPLICATION FILED AUG-25, 1 917. 1,382,768..

- Patented June 28, 1921.

fivvavma Fig. 3.

ZiEOlRGE ETEELGUSON. {H @715 ITIEK TS, 1T0 SW!) A CDRPOBATEQN OF NEWS? 3 SQLL: F03 BQGTS messes,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE Fnnsusois, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wollaston, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain improvements in Rubber Soles for Boots and Shoes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference charon drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

The present invention relates to soles for use in the manufacture of shoes and moreparticularly to the production of an improved vulcanized rubber compound outsole for shoes.

The invention has for its primary object to provide an improved vulcanized rubber compound outsole, hereinafter generically referred to as a rubber sole, which is especially adapted to the requirements essential to the production of a serviceable and neat appearing rubber sole shoe ofthe Mc- Kay type.

In the manufacture of shoes of the Mo- Kay type, the stitches for securing the outsole to the shoe are necessarily located a substantial distance inwardly from the periphery of the outsole since these stitches also secure the shoe upper and the insole to the outsole and pass through the lasted-in margin of the shoe upper. Consequently, a substantial margin of the outsole is not supported in this shoe as contra distinguished from a welted shoe in which the extreme outer margin of the outsole is supported by the extending welt and is secured to the outer margin of the welt by a separate seam. The present commercial rubber soles which are used in the manufacture of welted shoes are not applicable for use in Mcllay shoes, because these soles, being of substantially the same resiliency and flexibility throughout, lack the necessary body and firmness along the margin which extends be end the outsole securing stitches in the time ed shoe to prevent it from being distorted and warped so as'to detract from the appearance of the shoe and also from, resisting the severe service Specification of "Letters Patent.

a Bat-en e.

Application filed August 25, 1917. Serial 1%. 138,175.

to which the extension of the sole of a shoe is subject during wear.

With the above conditions in view, the present invention aims to provide a rubber outsole for a McKay shoe in which the margin of the feather of the sole is provided with a series of transversely disposed sole stiffening ribs of suitable height and thickness to render the'margin or featherof the sole less flexible and resilient other portions of the sole and of sufiicient body to maintain the desired definiteness in edge contour of the sole in the finished shoe. in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the upper surface of the margin of the sole is provided with a series of alternate ribs and grooves extending substantially at right angles to the face of the sole and terminating a d tion of the to shoe.

in accordanc with a the invention the upper sur is provided with a marginal l2 ric the outer edge of which 1 n tance within the edge face of the sole and which is corrugated into the body of the sole. This lamina of fabric serves materially to strengthen the margin of the outsole and serves a similar function to that of the welt in a welted" rubber sole shoe to provide a backing for the extension of the outsole. in

istance ap seam which attaches oroximating the locathe outsole the illustrated embodiment of the invention, 'the fabric extends across the entire upper surface of the solo in which case it reinforces be or? i es the rubber sole m c. s u it is corrugated into the sole the alternate ribs and grooves. se cs of alternate ribs and grooves also pe rrn the important function of obliterating the presence of the fabric on the upper surface the extending portion the sole '1' .rl desired stitch impressed appearance to the sole.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will now be described in connec tion with theaccornpanying drawngs and the invention will then bedefined the claim. I

the

. shaped grooves which margin of the sole.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 isa perspective view of a rubber solefor a McKay shoe illustrating the invention in a preferred form.

Fig. 2 is a section through the toe portion of a shoe illustrating the sole incorporated in a shoe of the McKay type.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, 2 representsthe body of the sole which consists of a rubber compound having the desired shape and treated by vulcanization. Conveniently the sole may be made of a semi-plastic compound which is placed in a suitably shaped mold and compressed as an incident to vulcanization. 4 represents the alternate ribs and grooves formed on the upper side of the These ribs and grooves 4 also may conveniently be formed by providing the surface of the mold which produces the sole with a plurality of suitably serve to raise a corresponding number of stiffening ribs on the upper surface of the margin of the sole] The stiffening ribs4, as illustrated, extend approximately at right angles to, the periphery of the sole, that is, transversely of the marginal portionof the sole and preferably terminate along a line approximating the location of the stitches securing the sole to a shoe. It is important that the formation of the ribs 4 be such that they serve as stiffening elements for the marginal portion of the sole and thus render that part of the sole less resilient and flexible than the remaining portion of the sole. As shown, each of the alternate ribs and grooves 4 are triangular in cross-section and are of substantially the same formation, that is, their height and thickness are the same from their outer edge to their inner termination.

y reason of the inner termination of the stiffening ribs 4 being along a line approximating the location of the outsole securing stitches, the entire unsupported marginal area of the sole is reinforced by the stiffening ribs when incorporated in a shoe, whereby the tendency of the extending or marginal portion of the sole to become distorted and warped during the wear of the shoe, and

. sole to resist the severe during the sole securing operation by reason of the varying tension of the outsole securing stitches, is effectually avoided. Also, the substantially firmer and stronger body provided along the margin of the sole by the stiffening ribs 4 enables this portion of the service expected of it during the wear of the shoe.

It has been found also advantageous to provide a fabric lamina along the margin of the upper side of the sole forthe purpose of stiffening the unsupported marginal area of the sole and maintaining a definiteness of edge contour for thesole when applied to the shoe. Also, this fabric lamina serves to provide a better foundation for the outsole stitches than is afforded by the rubber. As illustrated, this fabric lamina consists of a sheet of textile fabric 6, for example, heavy canvas, of a size to cover the upper surface of the sole with its periphery 8 located a short distance in from the edge of the sole in order that the fabric will not appear along the edge face and thus provide an all rubber edge face for the sole. This fabric lamina is embedded in the upper surface of the sole 2 conveniently at the time the sole is vulcanized and preferably is corrugated into the body 2, as shown, by the stiffening ribs 4 formed so that the sole presents a substantially flat top surface. alternate stiffening ribs and grooves 4 the vulcanized union between the fabric lamina 6 and the rubber body 2 is insured since the portion of the fabric located within the area of the ribbed and grooved formation on the sole is corrugated inthe rubber body of the sole as shown in Fig. 3. Also, the presence of the fabric on the visible or exposed upper side of the sole when it is incorporated in the shoe is obliterated. This corrugated ar rangement of fabric reinforce 6, together with the reinforcement of the rubber body 2 by the integral stiffening ribs. 4, provides the sole with an exceedingly strong and firm marginal portion. which will maintain the longitudinal andtransverse curvature imparted to it both before and after the sole is attached to the shoe and which will not be as liable to damageas soles heretofore provided. A rubber sole as thus provided may be used without necessitating a welt to support or back up the extending margin of the sole as was necessary with the prior rubber soles shoe, the alternate ribs and grooves serving to produce the desired stitch impressed appearance along the margin of the sole.

In the use of the rubber sole above described in the manufacture of a McKay shoe, the inseam stitches 10 which secure the sole 2 to the upper 12 and insole 14 pass through the sole 2 at substantially the inner termination of the transversely disposed ribs and grooves 4. The marginal unsupported area of the sole, that is, the margin of the sole outside of the stitches 10 is reinforced both by the stiffening ribs 4 and the fabric lamina 6, the fabric lamina performing the addition to hold the stitches.

Having described my invention, what I' By reason of the and may be employed in the same manner as a leather sole for a McKay claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent of the United States is 'f T:

As an article of manufacture;"a rubber sole for shoes comprising a sole-shaped rubher body having a fabric stitch-receiving lamina einbedded in the upper surface of surface of-the sole, and eorrugati ng the outer the rubber body to provide asubstantially .margin of the said fabriclamina into the. flat surface from edge to edge on the upper rubber body tostrengthen its vulcanized at; --10 surface of the rubber" body, thesaid rubber tachment to the said rubber body.

. 5 body'and fabric lamina .being vulcan zed In testimony whereof I have signed my together, and a series of transversely disname to this specification. posed ribs formed onthe upper marginal GEORGE FERGUSON. 

